Why Delivery and Parcel & Post should consider BYOD
Adopting a bring your own device (BYOD) model has many benefits for parcel and post companies. Firstly, they don’t have to buy and maintain devices for their employees. They can also reduce overall training costs, since people already know how to use their own devices.
Sounds easy, right? But getting it right requires the right apps and processes which will work on a wide range of devices, and be capable of completing every task employees will face.
So what is the process of integrating essential tools that a courier needs in a single mobile device?
Jump to key topics
Jump to key topics
1. The challenge of using multiple devices
Couriers need to manage deliveries for all their orders, which generally involve tracking the order with details like the time and location of delivery. Delivery management requires tools like the following:
- Barcode scanning
- ID scanning
- GPS
- Proof of Delivery software
- Route optimization software
- Tracking software
Last-mile delivery companies and couriers must also link these tools together to realize their full benefits, often by using multiple devices. However, this practice requires couriers to learn how to use all these devices, which can present a challenge for less tech-savvy employees. As a result, these employees can make input errors or overlook processes during delivery.
An increase in the number of devices also increases their total cost of ownership (TCO) because it requires companies to manage those tools in addition to buying the devices. Furthermore, multiple devices require employees to switch between devices, thus placing an additional burden on their workflow.
2. BYOD for Delivery and Parcel & Post
The last mile of delivery is usually the most difficult for most companies to accomplish. This short distance has many obstacles such as route planning, traffic, meeting customers and obtaining proof of delivery. As a result, the last mile often has the highest costs for delivering a product to a customer.
Trends like BYOD policies can reduce these costs, but delivery companies that implement them must also integrate the functions of multiple devices into a single device. While these companies often have GPS and delivery management apps already loaded onto their smartphones, they often use dedicated devices for other functions such as ID and barcode scanning or proof of delivery (PoD). The use of couriers’ own devices for these purposes eliminates the need to train them on dedicated devices, thus reducing errors due to misuse of the device.
3. ID and Barcode Scanners
Smart devices like smartphones and wearables provide a more robust, fast and flexible all-rounded solution for last mile delivery than dedicated devices, since apps for all required functions, from GPS to PoD, are now readily available. Solutions like Anyline’s mobile barcode and OCR scanning work with the smartphones your employees already own, so they don’t involve any hardware costs. They also allow couriers to scan IDs as a PoD and when legally required, as is the case with age-restricted parcels.
4. Integration for BYOD policies
Anyline’s mobile data capture solutions provide an efficient means of scanning barcodes with mobile devices that have a camera. Our solutions also work in adverse conditions such as low light levels, poor weather and locations without internet connectivity. Delivery companies can also implement Anyline’s Barcode and ID scanning SDK into their existing processes, eliminating the need for couriers to switch devices during deliveries. Anyline’s scanning solutions work with multiple operating systems, including iOS, Android and Windows. We also support common integration frameworks such as Xamarin, React Native and Cordova.
